EP0687484B1 - Swimming fin with buckle for fastening the heel strap - Google Patents

Swimming fin with buckle for fastening the heel strap Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0687484B1
EP0687484B1 EP95107054A EP95107054A EP0687484B1 EP 0687484 B1 EP0687484 B1 EP 0687484B1 EP 95107054 A EP95107054 A EP 95107054A EP 95107054 A EP95107054 A EP 95107054A EP 0687484 B1 EP0687484 B1 EP 0687484B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fin
buckle
piece
intermediate lever
strap
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95107054A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0687484A1 (en
Inventor
Giovanni Garofalo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HTM Sport SpA
Original Assignee
HTM Sport SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by HTM Sport SpA filed Critical HTM Sport SpA
Publication of EP0687484A1 publication Critical patent/EP0687484A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0687484B1 publication Critical patent/EP0687484B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B31/00—Swimming aids
    • A63B31/08—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs
    • A63B31/10—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs held by, or attachable to, the hands or feet
    • A63B31/11—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs held by, or attachable to, the hands or feet attachable only to the feet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to swimming fins, especialy the open-shoe type of swimming fin with a heel strap secured to both sides of the foot socket, and relates more particularly to a buckle for adjustably fastening the strap to the fin.
  • US Patent No. 4,795,385 discloses a swimming fin that comprises a heel strap attached to the opposite sides of the foot socket by means of a buckle consisting of two parts that fit one inside the other with a snap action.
  • the fin having a buckle fitted with such a closure device does, however, have many disadvantages.
  • closure systems such as those disclosed in the US patent cited above require that the strap tension be adjusted each time the fin is put on because in order to fit the two parts of the buckle together it is necessary to slacken the length of strap.
  • closing unlike releasing, always requires the use of both hands.
  • problems relating to carrying the fins once the buckle has been released in order that the strap can be used as a hand grip for carrying the fin, it has to be refastened. This feature also creates a risk when unfastening the buckle before, for example, climbing into a boat, because the fin may slip out of the hand and be lost.
  • Another problem arises if the underwater user of the fin wears gloves, which are usually quite thick, as these make it very difficult to fasten and unfasten the buckle whether in or out of the water.
  • Document US-A-3 940 815 describes a swim fin provided with means for quick releasing of the strap adapted to bear against the user's heel.
  • Said means comprise: a bracket secured to a lug protruding from the fin and integral to the same; a lever hinged at one end to an edge of the said bracket; and a link, at one end pivotally connected to said lever intermediate the ends of said lever, said link being V-shaped and connected at the other end to said strap.
  • the lever is pivotally mounted on the bracket so as to locate the outwardly a distance from the foot receiving portion, then defining, an overcenter toggle system.
  • the quick release mechanism in its closed position projects sidewise from the fin by a substantial degree.
  • the said feature is very objectionable. So for instance due to the said feature it is practically impossible to provide a fin with bilateral quick-release mechanism, and it is further not advisable to provide said mechanism on the confronting sides of the fins, since by so doing there is a danger that the two confronting mechanisms may come into contact one with the other during swimming, which could also cause unintentional release of one of said mechanisms. This means that always there will be a right- and left-handed fin.
  • the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a buckle for a swim fin of the above mentioned kind, that will overcome the disadvantages of the known systems of the prior art.
  • the subject of the invention is therefore a swim fin comprising: an open shoe type fin with a socket for the foot of the user, and provided a heel strap for securing the fin to the heel of the foot of the user and further comprising at least one buckle for securing said heel strap to the open shoe type fin, wherein said buckle comprises a base piece, said base piece comprising a wall piece and two lateral flanges perpendicular thereto; means for securing said base piece on the side of the fin next to the socket for the foot; an intermediate lever hinged at one end in said base piece; and an end piece bearing at one end the means for connection to said strap, while its other end is hinged at a point on said intermediate lever between the end hinged to the base piece and the free end, said free end of the intermediate lever and the lateral flanges of the base piece being engaged in mutual locking by mutual locking means.
  • said means for the connection of said strap allow for its length to be adjusted.
  • the numeral 1 indicates a swimming fin of the type comprising, as is entirely usual, a blade portion 101 and a socket or shoe 201 in which the user's foot is placed, this socket 201 being open at the heel end.
  • the fin has a heel strap 2 for retaining the user's foot.
  • the two ends of the strap 2 are each secured to a buckle 3 according to the invention, said buckles being connected in turn in such a way as to be able to pivot about pins 211 formed integrally with, and projecting laterally from, the sides of the socket 201, as will be explained further below.
  • This buckle comprises three parts hinged to each other, namely: a base piece 103, an intermediate lever 203 and an end piece 303 for connection to the end of the strap 2.
  • the base piece 103 is basically U-shaped in cross section and comprises a wall piece 103' and two lateral flanges 113.
  • a slot 133 In the wall piece 103' is a slot 133, at one end of which is a passage of greater diameter to allow the head 211' of the pins 211 to pass through it, while at the other end, near one end of the piece 103', this passage narrows down to the diameter of the pins 211 themselves.
  • the two lateral flanges 113 are provided with two through holes 123 in axial alignment with each other, in which pivot pins 223 carried by the intermediate piece 203 engage.
  • the intermediate piece 203 takes the form of a fork-shaped piece comprising two arms 213 connected together at one end by a crosspiece 243. The free ends of the arms 213 carry the pins 223 that enable it to pivot on the base piece 103. In the middle of these arms are two through holes 253 in axial alignment for the passage of a pin 233 on which the end piece 303 pivots, as will be described below.
  • a lateral recess 253 In a position on the arms 213 between the intermediate hinge point and their free ends is a lateral recess 253 which, when the buckle is closed, engages in a snap action with the projection 143 formed on the flanges 113 of the piece 103.
  • the end piece 303 is approximately T-shaped, the leg of the T having a through hole 313 through which, during assembly, the central part of the pin 233 is passed.
  • Attached to the head of the piece 303 is the piece 403 for retaining and adjusting the heel strap 2.
  • This piece comprises, in a manner known per se, a parallelepipedal box body 403 whose underside is open and whose topside comprises a pivoting cover 413 connected to the side walls of the body 403 by two pins 423 inserted in holes 433 in said walls.
  • Said cover comprises a cylindrical stud 473 on the inner face of its rear end which engages with one end of a helical spring 493, the opposite end of which is held in a similar stud 483 projecting from the bottom of said box body 403.
  • the cover 413 Towards its front end, the cover 413 has a raised bar 463 on the face turned towards the interior of the body 403, and this cooperates with a roller 443 held in the holes 423' in the side walls of the body 403 through which the strap 2 is guided.
  • the buckle 3 With the buckle 3 in the open position, that is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the user places his foot in the socket 201 of the fin 1. At this point the buckle 3 is closed: the lever 203 is pushed towards the base 103 by applying pressure on the free end 243 of said lever. The arm 303 connected to it by the pin 233 inserted through the holes 263 in the prongs 213 of the lever and through the hole 313 in said arm 303, is pulled towards the base 103. Complete closure is effected when the teeth 143 on the flanges 113 are inserted in the recesses 253 of the prongs 213. Conversely, by pushing the free end 243 of the lever up and disengaging the teeth 143 from the recesses 253, the buckle 3 is opened.
  • the length of the strap 2 can be adjusted in a known manner by means of the connection means 403.
  • the fin cannot slip from the diver's foot even if the buckle 3 is opened because the strap 2 still passes around the heel.
  • opening the buckle does not involve completely disengaging the strap from one side of the socket means that the fin can be carried with greater ease.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Buckles (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Finger-Pressure Massage (AREA)
  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
  • Adornments (AREA)
EP95107054A 1994-06-16 1995-05-10 Swimming fin with buckle for fastening the heel strap Expired - Lifetime EP0687484B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITGE940079 1994-06-16
IT94GE000079A ITGE940079A1 (it) 1994-06-16 1994-06-16 Pinna da nuoto munita di fibbia per l'agganciamento del cinghiolo a

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0687484A1 EP0687484A1 (en) 1995-12-20
EP0687484B1 true EP0687484B1 (en) 1998-08-12

Family

ID=11354603

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95107054A Expired - Lifetime EP0687484B1 (en) 1994-06-16 1995-05-10 Swimming fin with buckle for fastening the heel strap

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5545067A (ja)
EP (1) EP0687484B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2826715B2 (ja)
DE (1) DE69503978T2 (ja)
IT (1) ITGE940079A1 (ja)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10058737B2 (en) 2014-05-19 2018-08-28 Paolo PIUMATTI Apparatus for wearing fins

Families Citing this family (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1285252B1 (it) * 1996-02-23 1998-06-03 Technisub Spa Cinturino dorsale regolabile per attrezzature subacquee e per il nuoto
IT1294056B1 (it) * 1997-06-13 1999-03-15 Salvas Sub S P A Fibbia in particolare per la cinghia cingitallone di pinne da nuoto a scarpetta posteriormente aperta.
GB9719089D0 (en) 1997-09-10 1997-11-12 Scott Edward Apparatus for fastening open heel footwear,including swimming fins
US6463640B1 (en) * 2000-01-13 2002-10-15 Douglas J. Toth Strap connecting buckle
US20030232550A1 (en) 2002-06-18 2003-12-18 Wagner John Lee Universal swim fin replacement heel strap
ITGE20040036A1 (it) 2004-05-05 2004-08-05 Htm Sport Spa Fibbia di tensionamento dei cinghioli delle pinne o simili,provvista di mezzi di agganciamento e sgaciamento rapido e facilitato.
ITFI20050205A1 (it) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-01 Cressi Sub Spa Pinna per nuoto con fibbia di connessione del cinturino
WO2011123950A1 (en) 2010-04-08 2011-10-13 Cetatek Holdings Inc. Flippers, boots, systems including same, and methods of using same
US10675508B2 (en) 2010-04-08 2020-06-09 Cetatek Holdings Inc. Coupleable fin apparatuses and boot toe bodies
US9440114B2 (en) 2012-10-12 2016-09-13 Cetatek Holdings Inc. Boot sole system and fin for same
US9364717B2 (en) 2014-01-16 2016-06-14 Kathleen Davis Swimming fin
ES2628603T3 (es) * 2014-01-28 2017-08-03 Cressi-Sub S.P.A. Correa de talón para aletas de natación abiertas
US10086235B2 (en) 2015-01-23 2018-10-02 Mares S.P.A. Swim or a scuba diving fin
IT201600121316A1 (it) 2016-11-30 2018-05-30 Paolo Piumatti Apparecchiatura per indossare pinne.
USD886223S1 (en) 2019-02-08 2020-06-02 Tyr Sport, Inc. Swim fin
US10744374B1 (en) 2019-04-08 2020-08-18 Tyr Sport, Inc. Swim fin with an upper portion having debossed regions and triple-bladed rails
US10905175B1 (en) 2020-05-21 2021-02-02 Tyr Sport, Inc. Swimsuit with tension bands and reinforcement liners
EP4015051A1 (en) * 2020-12-15 2022-06-22 Cressi-Sub S.p.A. Swimming and scuba diving fin with an adjustable elastic heel strap

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2779077A (en) * 1952-02-23 1957-01-29 Richard M Kline Foot attachment for facilitating swimming
US3940815A (en) * 1973-05-03 1976-03-02 Imperial Manufacturing Company Quick foot release for swim fin
JPS63174674A (ja) * 1987-01-14 1988-07-19 株式会社　タバタ ダイビングフイン
JPH0723434Y2 (ja) * 1987-07-29 1995-05-31 山下印刷紙器株式会社 ボビン係止具
JPH0172267U (ja) * 1987-11-04 1989-05-15
US5083954A (en) * 1990-01-19 1992-01-28 Jacobs Edward R Swim fin retainer

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10058737B2 (en) 2014-05-19 2018-08-28 Paolo PIUMATTI Apparatus for wearing fins

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69503978D1 (de) 1998-09-17
ITGE940079A0 (it) 1994-06-16
EP0687484A1 (en) 1995-12-20
ITGE940079A1 (it) 1995-12-16
JPH08766A (ja) 1996-01-09
JP2826715B2 (ja) 1998-11-18
DE69503978T2 (de) 1999-02-04
US5545067A (en) 1996-08-13

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